LANCE ELEMENT

This function allows the user to lance the selected elements along one or several specified path. The Element Lancing dialog box is illustrated in Figure 5.3.22.

Figure 5.3.22  Element Lancing dialog box

l         SELECT LINE

This function allows the user to select one or several existing lines as cutting lines.

l         CREATE LINE BY NODES

This function allows the user to create a line segment by selecting nodes. The created line segment will be projected onto the selected element along the project direction and be regarded as the lancing path.

l         CREATE LINE BY CURSOR

This function allows the user to create cutting lines by cursor.

l         LOCATION

This function allows the user to move the location of local coordinates without changing the projection direction.

l         USER DEFINE

This function allows the user to define the projection direction. The user must define a vector (projection direction) for trim line. Clicking on this button, the program will pop up a Define Vector dialog box. Detailed operation about defining vector refers to Section 5.1.4 .

l         ELEMENT

This function allows the user to select lancing element area.

l         RATIO

This function allows the user to set the trimming ratio. The range of trimming is from 0.2 to 0.45, which restricts the size of small elements generated during lancing. Large elements are generated with large ratio and small elements are generated with small ratio. The default is 0.4.